Pink Floyd unite

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Rock legends Pink Floyd set aside squabbles in the interest of
fighting poverty in Africa and performed together today for the
first time in two decades at the Live 8 concert in London's Hyde
Park.

Grey-haired band members David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Roger Waters
and Richard Wright played hits like Money as they reunited in
public for the first time since 1981 during the mega concert.

The group performed before a cheering floodlit crowd toward the
end of the day-long concert, one of 10 worldwide aimed at putting
pressure on the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) countries
meeting in Scotland next week.

"Like most people I want to do everything I can to persuade the
G8 leaders to make huge commitments to the relief of poverty and
increased aid to the third world," Gilmour said before the
concert.

"It's crazy that America gives such a paltry percentage of its
GNP (Gross National Product) to the starving nations," he said.

"Any squabbles Roger and the band have had in the past are so
petty in this context, and if re-forming for this concert will help
focus attention then it's got to be worthwhile," Gilmour said.

Waters said: "It's great to be asked to help (Live 8 organiser
Bob Geldof) raise public awareness on the issues of third world
debt and poverty. The cynics will scoff, screw 'em!

"Also, to be given the opportunity to put the band back
together, even if it's only for a few numbers, is a big bonus."

Fans have long yearned for a reunion of the classic line-up but
it seemed unlikely because of a fall-out between founder member
Waters and the rest of the group in the 1980s.

The group achieved legendary status with albums such as 1973's
mega-success Dark Side Of The Moon.

Live 8 organiser Geldof's own involvement with the group
includes playing the lead role of Pink in The Wall, a 1982 film
based on Pink Floyd's 1979 album of the same name.